India Rail

I purchased an India Rail pass, and will be traveling around on that for the rest of the two weeks. My first trip I met up with a group of businessmen from Andar Pradesh, who were headed back on a 36 hour journey to their home state, after coming up to petition the government at Delhi. The asked the usual India questions: What does your father do? How much do you make? Are you married? Did your father give you permission to come on this trip. I like the nosy questions, as it gives me free reign to be horribly nosy in return. They were very nice, but rushed me off the train at the wrong stop (I just made it back on), they were very worried about me missing the Agra stop, but completely unfamiliar with Northern India Railways.

New Delhi Impressions

India is so much easier, more colorful, cooler (in temperature and make-up) and much less pollution than I had imagined. Am excited to spend three days here before heading off to Agra. Then a visit to the holy Ganges in Varanasi (I don't think I'll take a dip, though), Darjeerhling and the hill forts, the North East, then Pokhura in Nepal for three weeks.


I think I'm completely done with Italy. After spending a month in rural, rural Italy, I wouldn't mind if I never heard the phrase "mama mia" ever again. Interesting farming methods, but Italians I think qualify as the worst people I've met so far for thinking that everyone should speak perfect Italian and that the Italian way is the only way. The people I was staying with actually had a lot of tension in the community because they were doing a slightly less traditional way of farming. The innovation of India is very refreshing. The current budget hotel reminds me of budget hotels in Morocco, though India so far is cleaner, more people and much less touts. Though maybe I'm just more comfortable in my own skin. I think it helps to be a woman traveling alone.